Drone Flying Conditions in Gardiner

The live score above pulls today's forecast and scores wind, gusts, visibility, precipitation, and temperature into a single flight verdict. 90+ is ideal. Below 60, conditions require caution or postponement. Gardiner sits at 5,300 feet at the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park in the Yellowstone River valley — valley wind, cold mountain temperatures, and rapidly changing alpine weather make daily condition checks essential year-round.

Yellowstone National Park prohibits drone use under NPS rules — this includes all park land beginning at the Roosevelt Arch entrance. Gardiner itself sits outside the park on private and BLM-managed land; verify local land manager guidance. Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness to the north and east is also a no-fly zone. Check FAA B4UFLY for any TFRs and confirm current BLM guidance before launching.

Above 10–12 mph sustained, footage quality degrades. Above 20 mph or with gusts 15+ mph above sustained wind, most consumer drones are at risk. The Yellowstone River valley channels wind through Gardiner — gusts can arrive quickly and be substantially stronger than open-terrain readings suggest, particularly as cold fronts move through the region.

DroneCast scores flight conditions using wind, gusts, precipitation, visibility, and temperature. GoldCast (same app) scores golden hour quality and timing. Free on web at lightcastsuite.com/dronecast, full features in the LightCast iOS app. $2.99/month after a 7-day free trial.